Underarm garment shield and clip therefor



Aug. 29, 1950 A. R. sEAQUlsT 2,520,694

UNDERARM GARMENT SHIELD AND CLIP THEREFOR Filed April 30, 1947 INVENToR.

Patented Aug. 29, Y 1950 OFFICE UNDERARM GARMENT SHIELD AND CLIP v THEREFOR Arthur Richard Seaquist, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 30, 1947, Serial No. '744,842 f Y 11 Claims.

This invention relates to underarm garment shields, more particularly to clips for supporting disposable garment shields in proper protective relation with respect to the armhole of a garment and the invention has for an object the provision of simple, inexpensive and reliable devices of this character.

The damage, such as discoloration, staining and other unpleasant eiects, that may result to garments from underarm perspiration unless proper precautions and remedial measures are taken is Well known and the present invention provides a simple and readily usable underarm shield that may be quickly and securely applied to the armholes of a garment to protect the garment during use. In accordance with this invention, a light Wire clip is provided including a supporting portion shaped to span the armhole of the garment for supporting in protecting position a-suitably folded shield member. The supporting portion of the clip is provided at each end with resilient means for securely clamping the shield member while permitting ready removal of the shield member from the clip for disposal and replacement and means are likewise provided at each end of the supporting portion of the clip for securing the clip to the garment at opposite sides of the armhole with the shield member in proper shielding position and for permitting ready removal of the clip from the garment to facilitate disposal and replacement of the shield member.

It is aiparticular object of this invention to provide a light, shield-supporting clip for underarm use that will not cause discomfort to the wearer of the garment. n

It is another object of this invention to provide a clip of this character that securely clamps the garment and does not become displaced during use.

.A still further object is to provide a clip of the character indicated which will not detract from the appearance of the garment, which may be readily applied thereto and removed therefrom and which securely holds the shield member against displacement.

For a more complete understanding of the in- Vention, reference should now be had to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a shield-supporting clip embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the clip shown in Fig. 1; YFign is a top planV view of the clip shown in Figs.1and 2;' Y-

Fig. 4v isa perspective view of an underarm shield embodying the present invention and illustrating'the application of a folded shield member to the supporting clip of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View partly in section showing the underarm shield of Fig. 4 applied to the armhole of the garment, the section through the shield being taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one end of another form of shield-supporting clip embodying the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the end elevational view of the form of clip shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one end of still another form of clip embody ing the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in an underarm shield comprising a folded shield member IIJ and a supporting clip I I which serves to securely position the shield member I0 and which may be readily attached to and detached from the armhole of a garment so as to support the shield member Ill in proper shielding position. Althoughthe shield member II) has been illustrated as comprising a pair of crescent-shaped leaves joined along their concave arcuate edge so as to provide a two-ply folded structure, it will be understood, of course, that the shield member l may be of any desired shape. Likewise the shield end of the clip the body portion i 2 terminates in a double return bend disposed in the plane of the arcuate portion I2 so as to provide a first return bend portion I3 and a second return bend portion I4, the bend portion I3 extending inwardly `from the end of the arcuate portion i2 and the bend portion I4 extending outwardly beyond the end of the portion I2 at its outer end. The bend portion I4 terminates in a plurality of loops I5 and I6, the loop I5 being disposed partially in the planeof the arcuate portion I2 and the loop 'I6 being offset in side by side relation with the loop I5.

f As heretofore indicated, the clip II is formed from resilientv wirei and the first return bend I3 is so formed that the end thereof resiliently engages the arcuate portion I2 at the point indicated by the reference numeral I1 in Fig. 1. Thus, a resilient clamping means is provided for gripping the shield member I at points inwardly from 0pposite edges thereof when the shield member I is positioned on the clip II as shown Vin Figs. 4 and 5. As shown, the upper portions .of the side by side loops I5 andv I E are spaced apart and connected 'by a member I8 whichfor'ms a con-- tinuation of each of the loops and the loops are tilted so that the bottom portions of the loops engage each other as indicated by the referenceV numeral I9 in Fig. 2. The resiliency of the wire from which the loops I5 and I6 and the connecting member I8 are formed is such 'that the bottom portions Vof the loops may be spread apart to permit the insertion therebetween of a portion of the garment and thus the Vloops serve resilientlv to clamp the garment so as to support the shield in proper position. a I, Y Y

VIn Fig. 5, the underarm. shield is shown asapplied to the armhole of a garment c omprisinga body portion Yand a sleeve portion ZI which are joined in the usual fashion by a seam 22 and, in order to support the shield, the seam 22 atopposite sides of the arm-hole is inserted between the loops I5 and i6 at the opposite ends of the clip so that the seam is Vresiliently gripped at the point indicated -by the reference numeral i9- in Fig. 5. With the clip thus secured to the armhole oi lthe garment it will be observed thatY the downwardly extending leaves ofthe shield member IB straddle the lowerY portion of the armhole seam, one leaf being withinthe. sleeve and the other withinv the body portion of the garment'. 'Ihusy the shield member I0 overlies and; protects4 theportion of the Vgarment normally exposed. to underariaV perspiration and it will be observed thatafter the shieldV has been used. it is necessary only' to remove. the clip from thearrnhole andy withdraw the shield elementy lo from the clip Il, where upon afresh shield element maybe insertedinto the resilient. ciamping means provided bytharee turnV bend portions t3. ,The underarm shields embodying the present inventioni may thus be readily` appliedfand. removed and will not, while in use, distort the garment so` as to cause an une` sightly appearance., noi will they causediscomtfort tothe user.

InFigs. ov andi 7 asomewhat diierent4 form; of clip is shown which may be used in the same manner asA the clip H. in conjunction.withv the shield element le; lin` the embodiment. of Figs'. 6 and 7 two complementary wire.A members are employed, each-ofwhich includes an arcuateportion l2a, and; a. double return bend` consisting or portions i3d' and lll-a, but in this embodiment of the invention the portions Illaftermirrate arms 23 provided--with'` half loops 2dr and diverge- VingendY portions 25.. When the twol wire'- mem,- bers` are placed in sideby side relation and spotwelded together at suitable points, for.l example,

pointsizi and 2l, it will be observedV that a clip V '.tween'the dii/erging7 end-portions 25 the gripping action being accomplished at the point 3dr (Figi.Y 7-') which;` constitutes; the.' intersection of, the I, half Y loops: 2:42 andthe divergingrendrportionsfzf.-

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the clip comprises an arcuate portion I2b, return bend portions |317 and I4?) similar to por- Ytions I2, I3 and I of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, but the return bend portion Illb in this embodiment terminates in a downwardly extending karm or pin 3| by means of which the clip may be pinned rather than resiliently clamped to the garment.A j 'A v In order to provide ahiaximumgripping action, clips embodying the present invention are Ypreferably formed from roughened or burred wire, but

if desired, clips may be formed from smooth wire Vand''suitable s'errations or other friction producing surfaces may be formed at the gripping points I'I land I9 so that both the shield member Il! and the garment will be securely clamped or gripped.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that VI do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplateby theappended claims to cover any such. modicationsas fail within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what claimand desire to secure byLettersPatentis:

l. A garment shield for underarm use comprising an absorbent' member :folded to provide a pair of downwardly extending'leaves, an elongate supporting vmember extending along vthe fold between said leaves, resilier-it means at each end of said supportingmember for clamping said ab 3. A. garment shieldrfor underarm use compris'-V ingan absorbent member folded to provide a pair of downwardly extending leaves, a wire extending between said leaves along said fold, said 'v liaviri/gV a rst return-bend portion at each 'en extending inwardly over the edges of. saidl ab? sorbent member to clamp Ysaid member `to said wire, and. having a second return-bend portionv at each end extending` outwardly from said- 'rst return-bend portions byofl' the edges' of' SL. absorbent iiiember, and means carried said second return-bend DOlftior's for' securing said wire to the garment; Y Y

4i. YA garment shield. flor underarrn use comprisiig ail lS'Olet' Illnlof flt'e'dl :'[Lvlvidfl I of downwardly extending leaves, a wire extending betweensaidleavesalong said fold,.said wirehavil'lg a lst relirll-be'nd jitl at eaoii f extending 'fl'w'dly over thedgs Of- Sd'l'soi'blt member to clamp saidinmber to saidY wire, arid having a second return-bendporti'on at veaohend extending outwardly from said first return-.bend portionsbeyond the edges ofsafid absorbent rheinber, said'second return-bend portions t'eimihat-f ing in resilient clam-ping means for securing said "wire to the garment.

of olownwardly extendinggleaves, awire extending between said leaves along said fold, Vsaid wire having a rst return-bend portion at each end extending inwardly over the edges of said absorbent member to clamp said member to said wire, and having a second return-bend portion at each end extending outwardly from said iirst return-bend portions beyond the edges of said absorbent member, said second return-bend portions each terminating in a plurality of loops arranged in side-byside relation to form resilient clamps for securing the opposite ends of said wire to the garment.

6. A garment shield for underarm use comprising an absorbent member shaped to provide a pair of downwardly extending leaves joined together along arcuate upper edges, an arcuate wire extending between said leaves and engaging the joint between said leaves to support said member, resilient means at each end of said wire extending inwardly over said absorbent member to clamp said member to said wire, and means disposed outwardly of said clamping means for securing the ends of said wire to the garment.

7. A garment shield for underarm use comprising an absorbent member shaped to provide a pair of substantially crescent-shaped leaves joined together along the concave edges thereof, an arcuate wire support extending longitudinally between said leaves and engaging the joint therebetween to support said member, said wire including a return-bend portion at each end extending inwardly over said absorbent member to clamp said member to said wire, and means carried by said return-bend portion and disposed outwardly of the edges of said absorbent member for securing the opposite ends of said wire to the garment.

8. A garment shield for underarm use comprisling an absorbent member shaped to provide a pair of substantially crescent-shaped leaves joined together along the concave edges thereof, an arcuate wire support extending longitudinally between said leaves and engaging the joint therebetween to support said member, said wire including a return-bend portion at each end extending inwardly over said absorbent member to clamp said member to said wire, said wire including second return-bend portions extending from said rst return-bend portions and each terminating outwardly of the edges of said member in a plurality of side-by-side loops for resiliently gripping portions of the garment to secure said wire thereto.

9. A one-piece wire clip for supporting an under arm garment shield comprising an arcuate section for spanning the armhole of a garment, which section terminates at the opposed ends thereof in a double reverse bend engaging said arcuate section inwardly of the ends thereof to form a first clamping means and having a second clamping means extending outwardly of said ends for engaging a garment.

10. A one-piece Wire clip for supporting an underarm garment shield comprising an arcuate section for spanning the armhole of a garment, which section terminates at the opposed ends thereof in a double reverse bend engaging said arcuate section inwardly of the ends thereof to form resilient clamping means for engaging the shield and having a second resilient clamping means extending outwardly of said ends for engaging a garment.

11. A clip for supporting an underarm garment shield comprising an elongate member for spanning the armhole of the garment, means at each end of said member for resiliently clamping a removable shield, said means being integral with said member and extending back over and substantially in alignment with said member, and additional means at each end of said member for engaging the garment at opposite sides of the armhole to secure said member to the garment.

ARTHUR RICHARD SEAQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 555,383 Lavallette Feb. 25, 1896 590,807 Roberts Sept. 28, 1897 702,667 Murphy June 17, 1902 722,617 Peet Mar. 10, 1903 1,207,656 Stewart Dec. 5, 1916 1,228,266 Urstadt May 29, 1917 2,224,253 Clark Dec. 10, 1940 

